Things you've tried.

[Dport]

I know I've spent a lot of money, far more than I would like to admit, trying various things to make me a better pistol shot. I'm by no means an expert shooter, nor do I get paid for my opinions. These are things that have helped or hindered me along my quest to be a better shooter.

Of the things that didn't work out so well, here are the top few:
-Ghost ring sights. For reasons that I won't get into here, ghost ring sights on a pistol don't work like they do on a rifle. I wish they did. They do help you focus on the front sight, but they don't offer the accuracy I desired.
-Front sight paint. I read an article a while back about front sight paint and what colors work the best. They said green was easy for the eyes to pick up, so I painted my entire factory front sight green. Yep, it did help me pick it up, but it didn't do much for my accuracy.
-Decal grips. I thought the aggressive grip would be just the thing for helping me control recoil. Nope, and they seem to come off if you use certain cleaners.
-Dual recoil springs. I had one assembly for a Glock 19-don't laugh. It did slow recoil down, but it also made my Glock unreliable.

Some things that did work?
-Agrips. Yes, my Glock looks like a velvet Elvis painting. No it doesn't help control recoil, IMO. What it does do is help you keep a good grip on the gun even when you're sweaty.
-Extended slide release, for a Glock, and extended mag release. Both of these are the type you'd find on a G35/G35. As a lefty-yes I'm wrong handed too-I find that I can easily trip the slide release with my trigger finger, and the extended mag release helps tremendously.
-Race cut sights/thinner front sight. An instructor at a recent class said he didn't like them because they lost precision. I respect his wealth of knowledge, his experience and his opinion; however, in my limited experience, I find them to be fast and precise. The best shooting I have ever done is with race cut sights, and a thinner front sight. The only thing I would change is maybe increasing the width of my front sight from .090 to .100 to aid in front sight acquisition.
-Practicing focusing on the front sight. Sounds crazy right? I mean all you have to do is look at it. However, I've found that looking at it and focusing on it are two different things. When I first started focusing on my front sight, I thought I was crossing my eyes. That's what it felt like to me. I noticed that practice each day helped at the range later. Maybe I had to do this because I'm slow.


So what has or hasn't worked for you?

[SHIVAN]

I'm no expert either.

Practice and training with some of the best helped me the most.

[M4arc]

I haven't tried a bunch of stuff like sights, slip on grips or extended whatchamacallits but I have tried several different handguns thinking it was the gun, not me.

I've come to the conclusion that the only way I'll improve is to practice, practice, and practice.

[Edm]

Mine is real simple, Practice and watch the front sight. Practice with the particular platform plays a role in it for me. I'm not good enough to pick up any pistol and outshoot anyone, I find if I stick to one platform for a while I improve with it faster than taking 4 or 5 to the range and shooting them all.

[IndianaJeff]

I haven't added anything to any of my Glocks, so I can't sppek for upgrades. The one thing I've done that has helped my shooting is buying one of Matt Burkett video's. I know people say you can't learn muchfrom video's but his helped me alot. I used to crush grip the pistol. Now I grip with the same strength in my right hand, my gun hand, about the same pressure you would grip a hammer. My off hand applies the majority of the grip pressure. I also learned to focus on the front sight and let the trigger break suprise me, I've really improved in the last few weeks.

[Snipe]

I would say practice and training. I'm not much for all the add on stuff.

[MAP]

What doesn't work (for me) is changing guns in search of the "perfect pistol." I have a bunch of pistols that I've tried. None made me a better shooter.

Also what doesn't work is getting older. Wrist injuries make it difficult to make it through a day of pistol shooting with my .45. Advil or Celebrex helps! My eyesight also make it difficult to focus clearly on the front sight. I'm 20/25 uncorrected and clear focus on the FS is a challenge.

What works? Finding one gun that fits my hands as well as possible. That would be a 1911. After I retire I'll only shoot 1911s and my Kahr PM9 (great carry gun). HiPowers fit great as well.

The best thing to do? Get top notch training and practice. I qualified 3 days after the Vickers' class in May. I shot my normal score with my issued 92f, but my group was 1/4 the usual size.

Glad to be here.

Mike

P.S. Why are all of the VA boys have positions of power on the forum?

[4315]

No means an expert...but when I worked at an indoor range, I got into reloading my own ammo. I was shooting 200-300 rds a day trying to become proficient and it became real expensive, real fast! Reloading not only saved money, but also allowed me to customize my own "low recoil" load, using "Clays" powder. The biggest problem I had was anticipating recoil, my reloads did alot to remedy that. I also spent alot of time dry firing and concentrating on the basic fundamentals of marksmanship.

I would like to think that I am an "above average" pistol shot now.

[Dport]

IThe one thing I've done that has helped my shooting is buying one of Matt Burkett video's. I know people say you can't learn muchfrom video's but his helped me alot.

It was Matt's Pratical Shooting Manual that helped me diagnose that I wasn't really getting a good focus on the front sight. It's very good in other ways to. It is what prompted me to start planning practice sessions and recording their results.

All was going pretty good, until I moved, was put into a job where I traveled up to 20 days per month, and generally wasn't able to live fire practice as much as I had been. Totally forgot many of the lessons I learned then, and I'm having to relearn them all over again.

[mark5pt56]

I've found that alot of people "overlook" constantly reviewing the basic fundementals. Once these are looking good, then progress and build on them. Yes it's important to conduct various drills to increase ones skill level, but not having the ability to hit a 3" dot at 7 yards standing still with no time limit and starting off running a run and gun course throwing lead doesn't really teach you much other than how to miss real fast.

I see it like any sport, warm up then tailor the drills accordingly based on the intended use. Know what you are capable of so when the time comes, you know what and how to do it.

Keeping that in mind, forget the gadgets and practice with what you will carry.
Don't get tied up in a competition based mindset that will not work in reality. This includes gear set up, etc. Use the gear how it was intended, such as retention devices on holsters, mags, etc. Yeah, you might be a tad quicker on the draw or reload, but will it be there when you need it after a struggle, run, etc.

Will it work?
Is it necessary?
Can I duplicate it under stress?

Mark